Patient Update from Midwest Heart Specialists Physicians

Topic Zetia and Vytorin 1-15-2008

 

As many of you may or may not be aware, recently Zocor (Simvastatin) and Vytorin (Simvastatin and Ezetimbe) have been in the news. 

The media has implied that Zetia (Ezetimbe) and/or Vytorin (Simvastatin and Ezetimbe) may not prevent heart attacks or strokes and/or may promote increase in plaques. The FDA has not withdrawn Zetia or Vytorin from the market.

1.      The ENHANCE trial was not an outcomes study (there was no placebo arm and it did not look at rate of MI, Stroke or death). What it was looking at was the thickening of the lining of the carotid arteries (IMT) in both groups (comparing Zocor versus Vytorin). 

There was no significant difference between the 2 groups, meaning no statistically difference in IMT.  

  
2.      MHS believes that Zetia and Vytorin lowers the LDL cholesterol which has been proven in previous studies. We will continue to prescribe Zetia and/or Vytorin in the appropriate patients.   

 3.      For some patients remaining on Zetia and/or Vytorin maybe the most appropriate medication choice, this decision is unique to each individual and per the physician directions.